Santa Claus
He comes every year - this pleasantly plump, white-bearded man who always seems to know what every child wants. Usually sporting a bright red suit and big black boots, most children and adults know him as Santa Claus.
Who is this "legend" and how did he come into being?
J. Gunsch, in his article, "Who is Santa Claus," described his version of the origin:
"St. Nicholas was the biggest influence on the Santa Claus we know today. His family was very wealthy but died in a plague. Surviving the epidemic, St. Nick took his strict Christian upbringing very seriously and devoted his life to God. St. Nicholas rid himself of all his material possessions and set out to help the poor, the infirm, or anyone else who was suffering. Word of his generosity and kindness spread and he quickly earned the reputation of a gift giver and saint."
In 1897, a curious eight year-old girl, Virginia O'Hanlon, wrote the The Sun newspaper in New York because she was confused about the existence of Santa Claus. The now-famous response was "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."
While the exact origin of Santa Claus may be disputed, and some may question his "authority," the jolly man of good cheer is no stranger at Christmas. It is also safe to say that he is associated with gift-giving, however, perhaps the purpose of the giving has become somewhat misinterpreted over time.
Today, some seem to give from their wallets, instead of their hearts. Feeding on the media, the "Black Friday" hype and as they become eager to battle the lines at the stores to grab the bargain of the day, they try to find the perfect gift that will bring happiness to their recipients. We are often driven to give more than they have and the smell of burning plastic follows us home while the odor tends to linger longer than expected.
But what about the greatest of all gifts - the gift that God has given to us - the gift of love, the gift of His son, Jesus Christ, the gift of eternal life and all that comes with this gift that we have to accept in order to truly appreciate.
The gift of compassion that enables us to give to others we may not even know.
The gift of sharing that sends us on a mission to serve a meal to the homeless or to a family that is having a more difficult time than we are.
The gift of listening that allows us to hear the cries of those in need.
The gift that opens our eyes and our hearts.
Yes, Santa, there really is a Jesus. And He is here for us every moment of our lives. This gift is ours for the asking, but with accepting this gift, there comes certain commitments. To share our love, compassion and understanding with others. To reach out to those in need, to stand strong in the midst of many storms that seem to come our way.
Keeping this gift within us, without sharing it, defeats its purpose. It stagnates, it withers and it dies. Nourishment comes in the form of faith and this faith keeps us strong if we fall, focused when our thoughts seem to be blurred, and humble when we ourselves may need to seek the help of others.
As we gather our Christmas lists, I hope we can all keep the simple things in mind because most of the gifts we may have received over the years have long been forgotten. But the gift of Jesus Christ remains within us forever, always there, always willing, always strong.
May this Christmas bring thoughts of comfort, inspiration and compassion. What is at the top of your list?
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